From Teacher to Entrepreneur: The Surprising Journey of Starting a Business in My 50s

Would I have believed it?

If you'd told me, at almost 50 years of age, that I would start a business that would now be entering its fifteenth year of trading… Well, no, not really. Yet, here I am.

The journey has been incredible, challenging, and truly rewarding.

From Teacher to Business Owner

I’ve been passionate about education and the equality of opportunity for every learner for as long as I can remember. I am, first and foremost, a teacher. Since 1985, I’ve worked in primary and secondary state education, including in inner-city comprehensives, grammar schools, local town comprehensives, and primary schools. I’ve also worked as a part-time lecturer in Primary Modern Foreign Languages at the University of Manchester and as a visiting lecturer at several universities in Merseyside.

In 2002, I became one of the first Primary Modern Foreign Languages Advanced Skills Teachers in England. I went on to become a Warrington Local Authority Education Consultant, a National Trainer for the Department for Education’s KS2 Framework (DCFS back then), and a Regional Consultant for Primary MFL in the North West of England.

The Turning Point: A Leap of Faith

I was extremely fulfilled supporting and training teachers and developing free resources. I even helped develop national languages upskilling training programs for primary teachers. But then, the funding stopped, and that’s when the rug was pulled out from under me. My job was about to disappear.

So, I faced a dilemma. Do I go back to full-time teaching, try to do "bits and pieces," or take a leap of faith and start my own business to continue the work I had helped establish in primary schools?

It wasn’t a hard decision — I’m passionate about starting foreign language learning early. Why is it that in England, we’re one of the few countries that leave it so late to explore the natural skills of communication in other languages?

Yes, you guessed it — I took the leap.

From One-Woman Band to Growing Business

The early days of the business were tough. I went from working solo to assembling a small team of colleagues and myself, initially working in a couple of primary schools as PPA teachers for primary foreign languages. Then came the moment when I had to print off lesson plans, sometimes with typos, and run off pictures on my house printer!

Fast forward to 2025, and we’ve grown significantly. Now, our team consists of seven linguists, educationalists, and teachers, with an additional peripatetic team of 12 QTS-qualified teachers teaching in over 50 primary schools every week. Together, we deliver high-quality primary foreign language schemes, CPD, and in-class teaching, all powered by our digital platform — featuring innovative uses of technology like Video2Teach and virtual team teaching.

We’re proud to say that our PLN digital resources are now used in over 1,300 schools!

What I Love Most

What still excites me the most about this growing network of schools and teachers is when they share their class work and progress with us on WhatsApp, by email, or via social media platforms. It’s wonderful to see teachers and students thriving with the resources and support we provide.

The Road to Here Hasn't Been Easy

Let me be clear: it hasn’t been smooth sailing. Shifting from a teacher to a business owner meant stepping away from state education and facing new challenges. There were ups and downs, but I was fortunate to receive incredible support and wise advice from fellow educators who believed in me.

At the same time, I had to deal with colleagues who assumed I was in it for profit — but education is not about profit; it’s about making a difference with the smallest of budgets.

Like many entrepreneurs, I faced personal challenges. I’m a mum, a wife, and a daughter — all while juggling the demands of business. On top of that, I was dealing with business rules, legislation, and financial hurdles that were completely new to me at the time, such as Sole Traders, IR35, and profit-loss management.

And then came Brexit, Covid, life events, and educational uncertainties. It’s been a roller coaster, but I wouldn’t change a thing. I wouldn’t have missed a moment!

Growing the Team: From Small Beginnings

The business grew, and so did the people in it. Many of the team members started with us as part-time PPA teachers or admin assistants, and now, some are Directors, consultants, or social media leads. One of my greatest joys is seeing the progression of my team, many of whom started as teachers in Warrington or joined me early on in the business's journey.

Another of my greatest joys is the PLN team Santa Dash and family party we hold every December, where colleagues, partners, and their families come together to celebrate and enjoy being part of something bigger than just a business.

Family Support: The Pillar Behind It All

None of this would have been possible without the unwavering support of my immediate family. My husband took the financial strain in the early days when I wasn’t drawing a salary. As a businessman, he stepped in to create a feasible business plan and is now our Financial Director.

And then there’s Will, our son, who has become a PLN Director. He didn’t always want to follow in my footsteps — he trained as a PE teacher and wasn’t initially interested in languages. However, after spending a year in Spain learning Spanish, he returned with a newfound passion for language learning and helped build our VLE (digital platform). Today, he is one of our most knowledgeable advocates for the role of non-specialists in the primary foreign language journey.

Building a Strong Team and Looking to the Future

A business grows when it’s not a one-woman band. It’s about collaboration, teamwork, and nurturing strengths. Our team is a perfect blend of skills — including our Customer and Office Manager, a linguist who speaks seven languages and is passionate about language learning.

So, what’s next?

The Future of Education and Foreign Language Learning

Now, as I approach my sixties, I’m still deeply passionate about teaching, facilitating learning, and empowering teachers to believe they can deliver primary foreign languages. I am determined that we continue to support both specialist primary language teachers and class teachers, so we can work together to address the challenges of bridging the gap between primary and secondary MFL education.

It’s come full circle. Once a secondary languages teacher, then a primary teacher, trainer, and consultant, I’ve always believed that every pupil, no matter where they’re educated, deserves equality of opportunity. Here’s to the next phase of growth, both for the business and for primary and secondary education.